This one feels like it’s hitting home for me right now and I thought, “what better time to write about how people with ADHD avoid grief then when you are doing it yourself….” Thanks for that, brain.
I’m sooooo sorry about the pups and miscarriage. I relate so much to this- and honestly it’s not something I’ve thought much about before but it makes so much sense. My whole life I’ve been terrified to feel sad- because I thought once I allowed that feeling in that it would flood me and I’d drown.
When my dad died in May 2024, followed immediately by my grandma who died on the day of my dads funeral, I decided to still drive across county on a 3 day road trip to Texas to work at summer camp. I filled my days with camp life busy-ness or weekend Texas adventures. When i returned home I poured myself into reading- constantly. I avoided the world for fear of them bringing up my grief and I would go from barely sleeping and only reading to sleeping nonstop. I started random projects, attempted career shifts, took a photography course, etc.
I still don’t know how to be sad or process grief- and i never quite thought of it in terms of adhd or rsd but it makes soooo much sense.
I'm so sorry to hear about your recent losses. I can't imagine how difficult working through that must be. With this article, you've used your experience to offer something really powerful for others, and that's worth celebrating. This describes my experience so accurately, and I don't think I've ever made the connection to my ADHD before! It's really going to help me, so thank you for sharing. <3
I’m so glad it felt supportive! It kind of hit me like a ton of bricks yesterday when I heard someone else talk about how their ADHD turns them into a DIY machine when they are sad or grieving. Working on taking some time to slow things down around here for a bit.
Thank you for writing this in the midst of your sorrow. I have actually found that writing helps me move through grief, and I have written my way through three big losses. Something about finding words for it and stepping away from my grief to describe it seems to help me integrate it. I hope that writing this piece did a little of that for you. Sending softness for your grief <3
My heart for your losses. Late ADHD diagnosed + raised in avoidance meant I got really good at masking. But I'm learning that embracing emotions instead of running doesn't make the world fall apart. It's the opposite.
This might help:
https://substack.com/@yinyangbrain/note/c-272794164
I’m sooooo sorry about the pups and miscarriage. I relate so much to this- and honestly it’s not something I’ve thought much about before but it makes so much sense. My whole life I’ve been terrified to feel sad- because I thought once I allowed that feeling in that it would flood me and I’d drown.
When my dad died in May 2024, followed immediately by my grandma who died on the day of my dads funeral, I decided to still drive across county on a 3 day road trip to Texas to work at summer camp. I filled my days with camp life busy-ness or weekend Texas adventures. When i returned home I poured myself into reading- constantly. I avoided the world for fear of them bringing up my grief and I would go from barely sleeping and only reading to sleeping nonstop. I started random projects, attempted career shifts, took a photography course, etc.
I still don’t know how to be sad or process grief- and i never quite thought of it in terms of adhd or rsd but it makes soooo much sense.
Great article!!!
I'm so sorry to hear about your recent losses. I can't imagine how difficult working through that must be. With this article, you've used your experience to offer something really powerful for others, and that's worth celebrating. This describes my experience so accurately, and I don't think I've ever made the connection to my ADHD before! It's really going to help me, so thank you for sharing. <3
I’m so glad it felt supportive! It kind of hit me like a ton of bricks yesterday when I heard someone else talk about how their ADHD turns them into a DIY machine when they are sad or grieving. Working on taking some time to slow things down around here for a bit.
Thank you for writing this in the midst of your sorrow. I have actually found that writing helps me move through grief, and I have written my way through three big losses. Something about finding words for it and stepping away from my grief to describe it seems to help me integrate it. I hope that writing this piece did a little of that for you. Sending softness for your grief <3
My heart for your losses. Late ADHD diagnosed + raised in avoidance meant I got really good at masking. But I'm learning that embracing emotions instead of running doesn't make the world fall apart. It's the opposite.
Thank you for this.
Yes, I think we were all kind of conditioned to be good at that and it can feel so freeing to unravel it a little at a time!